Safety seal packer



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United States Patent 3,298,442 SAFETY SEAL PACKER James W. Kisling III, Houston, Tex., assignor to Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Mar. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 350,977 9 flaims. (Cl. 166-196) This invention relates to a well tool control and more particularly to an apparatus for selectively controlling the relative movement between telescoping members of a well tool.

Commonly, in formation testing of wells, packers are included in a string of formation testing tools to isolate a section or formation to -be tested from another part,

of the well bore. A typical packer well tool is comprised of an elastomer packer element positioned between flanges on telescoping members. By providing relative movement between such telescoping members, the flanges can be moved toward one another to compress and expand the elasto-mer element between the flanges to seal oif the well bore. Subsequent to this setting of the packer, it may be desirable to utilize additional longitudinal movement for other tools attached to the packer to perform other operations or tests in the well bore. In many instances, the subsequent longitudinal movement of the tool string will permit the flanges on the packers to move relative to one another so that a premature contraction of the packer element in the well bore occurs and terminates the sealedotf condition in the well bore.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for selectively controlling the relative position of telescoping members in a well packer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for releasably retarding relative movement between telescoping members of a well tool wherein the retarding apparatus is selectively controlled by a quick motion transmitted to one of the members to permit relative movement of the telescoping members.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a releasable hydraulic means for retarding the relative movement of telescoping members of a well tool wherein said apparatus is responsive to rapid movement of one of the members to release the retarding apparatus.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for maintaining telescoping members of a packer in a contracted position while longitudinal move.- ment of tools attached to the packer may be utilized to operate the tools.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates an apparatus which may be formed as an integral part of a packer or which may be provided as an adapter section for a conventional packer wherein telescoping members of the packer may be releasably locked in a contracted position. More particularly, the apparatus includes an annular chamber formed between the telescoping members (of a well tool) and .a piston formed on one of the members for sliding within the chamber. Passageways through the piston provide for communication and transfer of fluid so that the piston can move relative to the chamber. formed in the piston intermediate the ends of the passageways. The valve control is normally operative to close the passageways and thereby block communication through the piston. The valve control is, however, responsive to a slight relative movement between the telescoping members to open the passageway to fluid communication for a determinable period of time thereby permitting movement of the piston within the chamber and relative movement between the telescoping members.

A complete understanding of this invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a string of well tools positioned in a well bore;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are detailed vertical sections of a well tool control embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2a showing the valve control in detail; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a string of Well tools 11 is shown suspended from a string of pipe 12. The string of tools includes, for example, a tester 16, a bypass 17 and a packer 18. A safety seal section 19 embodying the present invention is connected to the packer 18. The tester may be of the type set forth in Patent No. 3,065,796. The packer 18 is of conventional construction and includes an expandable packer element 22, upper and lower anchoring means 23 and wall-engaging friction pads 24. The bypass 17 is likewise of conventional construction and capable of being held closed while longitudinal forces are applied to the string of tools.

Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, safety seal section 19 includes a tubular mandrel 27 telescopically received within a tubular housing 28, the mandrel and housing respectively being adapted at their upper ends for connection to the mandrel and housing of a packer section positioned above the safety seal section. The mandrel 27 has upper and lower enlarged portions 38 and 37, respectively, each having a similar diameter and are slidably and sealingly received within the bore of the housing 28. O-rings 35 and 36 are disposed between the enlarged portions and the housing bore to provide a fluid-tight seal. These are ring seals formed in the upper and lower ends of an annular space between the mandrel and housing which forms a chamber 29 for receiving a hydraulic fluid. An annular piston 41 is fixed in position on the mandrel intermediate of the seals and is slidably received within the chamber 29. The housing bore has step-recessed portions, an upper bore portion 32 being enlarged greater than a lower bore portion 33. A seal member 43 on the piston provides a fluid-tight seal when the seal member 43 and piston 41 are within the lower portion 33- of the chamber 29. When the seal 43 is positioned in the enlarged bore portion 32 of the chamber, it has no sealing function. When the seal 43 on the piston is sealingly received in the lower bore portion 33, it separates chamber 29 into upper and lower chamber portions 54 and 53, respectively.

The details of piston 41 on the mandrel will be best understood by reference to FIGS. 2a, 3 and 4. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the piston 41 has a first passage 51 extending from the top surface of the piston to the lower piston sur- A valve control means is face comprised of an upper flow conduit 51a and a lower flow conduit 51b which are selectively coupled to one another via a valve chamber 56 in the piston 41. Upper conduit 51a has a one-way, spring-biased ball valve arranged to permit fluid in the chamber 29 to pass through the piston from the upper chamber portion to the lower chamber portion.

The piston also has a second passage 52 extending from the bottom surface of the piston to its outer circumferential surface at a point above seal 43 and is comprised of a lower flow conduit 52b and a traverse conduit 52a which are selectively coupled to one another via the valve chamber 56. The traverse conduit 52a opens to .a relieved portion of the piston 41 above seal 43 so that the second passageway effectively couples the upper and lower chamber portions 54 and 53 to one another. The lower flow conduit 52b has a one-way, spring-biased ball valve arranged to permit a fluid in chamber 29 to pass through the piston from the lower chamber portion 53 to the upper chamber portion 54.

Valve chamber 56 is a longitudinally-extending bore opening at its lower end to conduit 52b which has a smaller diameter. In the valve chamber 56 is a spool valve member 63 having upper and lower valve portions 64 and 65 which are separated by a recessed bypass portion 68 formed on the spool valve. Valve portions 64 and 65 are sized relative to the chamber to permit a relatively low rate leakage of fluid around the valve portions. The valve member 63 is biased by a spring 67 in the piston toward a position where the second passage 52 is closed.

In the position of valve member 63 illustrated in FIG. 4, the spring 67 is compressed and both the passages 51 and 52 are open. Upper conduit 51a has its opening 62 to valve cylinder 56 located so that when the valve memher is in its lower position closing passage 52, the opening 62 is closed. Opening 61 of lower conduit 51b is, however, locate-d relative to valve cylinder 56 so that when the valve member 63 is in the lower position, the conduit 51b is opened to the recess in the valve member. Openings 58 and 57 provide communication between the valve cylinder 56 and the upper and lower flow conduits 52a and 52b and when the spool valve 63 is in its lower position, both the ports or openings 53 and 57 are closed.

Referring now to FIG. 2, longitudinal internal annular cavity 73 is in the wall of the mandrel 27 below the mandrel piston 41. A port 74 at the upper end of the internal cavity 73 fluidly connects the cavity and the lower chamber portion 53. A passageway 77 extends from the lower end of the cavity to the exterior of the mandrel to provide a fluid communication path between the cavity and the exterior of the well tool. A compensating piston 78 is slidably and sealingly received within the cavity and a spring 79 is positioned below the compensating piston in the cavity to provide an upward bias of the piston in the cavity. Piston 78 press-urebalances the fluid in the chamber relative to the pressure of the fluid exterior of the tool.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a downward movement on the packer mandrel is used to set the packer after the packer housing has been anchored to the casing by the packer friction pads 24 and slips 23. Relative movement between the packer and safety seal mandrel and housing is prevented while the tools are being lowered in the casing by a pin and J-slot arrangement 82 between the mandrel and housing of the packer. This pin and J-slot arrangement may be alternatively provided on the safety seal section 19. In order to unjay the mandrel and housing members for relative longitudinal movement, the pin is moved relative to the slot by an upward movement from the mandrel and rotation of the mandrel (by the string of pipe) to the right to position the pin in a long part 83 of the slot as shown in FIG. 1, and downward movement of the packer mandrel relative to the housing (held stationary by the friction blocks). The housing is restrained from movement by the friction pads 24 in friction engagement with the well casing. After unjaying the housing and mandrel, the downward movement causes the expanders to radially extend the slips 23 into anchoring engagement with the casing. Further downward movement of the packer mandrel compresses and expands packer element 22. to pack-off the well bore.

The relative movement between the packer mandrel and housing to set the packer also occurs in the attached mandrel 27 and housing 28 of the safety seal section 19. Upon downward movement of the safety seal mandrel with respect to the stationary housing, the mandrel piston 41 (see FIG. 4) is moved downwardly in the fluid-filled chamber 29 and fluid is freely transferred from the lower chamber portion 53 to the upper chamber portion 54 via the passageway and also around the piston until the seal 34 is received in the restricted bore portion 33. Specifically, in passage 52 the flow goes through the check valve 71 in conduit 52b and acts on the lower end of valve element 63 to displace it while compressing spring 67. The displacement of valve element 63 permits fluid communication between the cylinder ports 57 and 58 and transverse conduit 52a. As the mandrel moves downwardly with respect to the housing, the seal ring 43 formed on the mandrel piston engages a wall of restrict-ed portion 33 of the chamber, forming a seal therebetween. After the packer element has been expanded in the casing and relative movement between the mandrel and housing stops, a fluid is no longer forced to flow through the check valve 71 and first passageway 52 from the lower chamber 53 to the upper chamber 54. At this time the pressure in the upper and lower chamber portions is equalized and the biased check valve 71 closes. The compressed spring 67 positioned above the spool control valve 63 now operates to move the control valve to its lowermost position at a rate controlled by displacement of fluid between the valve cylinder and lower valve portion 65.

* After a period of time, the valve moves to its lowermost position and closes ports 57, 58 and 62 and therefore prevents fluid communication in either direction *through the passageways 52, 51. While moving down- *ward, the valve member first closes off ports 57, 58 and then port 62, with port 61 remaining open to the recess 68 of the valve member. With the valve ports in this -latter condition, relative movement between the safety seal packer mandrel and housing is prevented because fluid cannot be transferred through passages 51, 52. Since the packer is expanded in the casing, the safety *seal section will hold it expanded by preventing relative longitudinal movement.

* In order to effectuate a selective release of the safety *seal mechanism to permit relative movement between *the mandrel and housing members of the safety seal and *packer, and thereby permit release of the packer element 22, first an upward force or pull is applied to the *mandrel 27 and then the force is released, which applies *a downward force to the mandrel to thereby move the *mandrel a short distance downwardly. Alternatively, *downward force can be quickly applied to the mandrel. *In either case, during the short downward movement of *the mandrel and piston 41, a relatively large pressure *is generated in the lower port or chamber 53 which displaces the ball in the check valve 71 positioned in the *lower portion 52b of the first passageway and acts on *the relatively small area on the lower face of the spool *piston 63. This pressure quickly displaces the spool piston 63 to a position opening the ports 57, 58 and 62 *of the first and second passageways thereby providing *fluid communication from one end of the passageways to *the other. Before the spool valve can reset in its down- *ward position under the action of the weak valve spring 67, enough time lapses to permit movement of the mandrel piston 41 in the fluid chamber 29 to bring seal 43 into recess portion 32 and also unseat the packer. *Fluid flow then occurs, during this time lapse, through *the second passageway 51 from the up er end 54 of the *chamber to the lower end 53 through the ports 61 and *62 in the valve cylinder permitting free movement of the PlStOIl 41 in the fluid chamber and consequently move *ment of the mandrel 27 upwardly relative to the housing *28. This relative movement permits release of thepacker element 22 from its packed-off condition. The "time lapse required for the spool valve 63 to move toits downward position is controlled by the relative size of the valve in the cylinder since fluid must be displaced *around the spool valve in order for the valve to seat over *ports 57 and 58 under the action of the valve spring.

In the event that the spool valve 63 should fail to move upwardly in response to quick downward movement of the mandrel to open the ports to fluid communication, the sizing of spool valve 63 in the cylinder 56 *permits a restricted flow of fluid around the valve by the application of an upward force on the mandrel The safety feature provides for the restricted flow of fluid around the spool valve from port 62 to 61. The upward force will eventually cause enough fluid to displace through the restricted opening to move the mandrel upwardly a distance sufficient to permit release of the packer element. The time required to eflect this safety release is, of course, dependent upon the spool valve size with respect to the cylinder.

The port 61 communicating with the lower portion 51b of the second passageway is offset downwardly from a point opposite the port 62 of the upper portion 51a and is therefore always exposed to the recessed portion 68 of the spool valve to remain open regardless of the position of the spool valve. This offset relation prevents pressure on the spool valve from shifting the spool valve against the port 61 to close off the port from the restricted fluid flow in emergency conditions described above.

The compensating piston 78 (FIG. 2) which is positioned in the cavity 73 of the mandrel and communicates with the lower end 53 of the fluid chamber, is provided to maintain a constant volume in the fluid chamber regardless of temperature changes within the well bore.

While the present invention has been disclosed for use with a packer where it has a particular utility, it should be appreciated that the present invention has other applications. In essence, the present invention contemplates providing a selectively operable self-contained hydraulic system for releasably retaining telescoping members in one of their expanded or contracted positions. The hydraulic system includes means for trapping fluid in a telescopic portion and means for releasing the trapping means in response to manipulation of the telescopic members.

Additionally, While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

ii. A device for controlling movement between telescoping members of a well tool comprising:

means forming a chamber between said telescoping members for receiving a fluid,

piston means formed on one of said members and slid ably received in said chamber,

said piston means having a passageway formed therein for passing fluid from one part of said chamber to another through said piston,

said piston means having a cylinder therein intersecting said passageway,

valve means movably positioned within said cylinder for opening and closing said passageway,

said valve means biased to close said passageway in the absence of relative movement between said members and responsive to an increase in fluid pressure in said passageway to open said passageway, and means for rendering said valve means slow to reclose said passageway.

2. A device for controlling relative movement between telescoping members of a tool comprising:

means forming an annular chamber between said members,

an annular piston formed on one of said members and slidably received within said chamber to divide said chamber into upper and lower portions,

a pair of passageways formed through said piston for providing fluid communication above and below said piston,

a cylinder formed in said piston and interrupting the passageways intermediate their ends communicating with said upper and lower portions of said chamber,

a control piston slidably received within said cylinder and movable between at least two positions,

means on said control piston for closing off fluid communication between said interrupted passageways in one of said positions and for opening said passageways to fluid communication in the other of said positions, and

means normally urging said control piston to the position where fluid communication between said passageways is interrupted but yielding to an increase in pressure in one of said chamber portions to pertmit positioning of said control piston under the force of said pressure increase in the other position where said passageways are open.

3. A device positioned between and for controlling the relative movement of two telescoping members of a well tool comprising:

means forming a fluid chamber between said telescoping members,

a piston formed on one of said members and slidably received within said chamber to divide said chamher into upper and lower portions,

a first and second passageway formed through said piston providing a fluid communication path between said upper and lower portions above and below said piston,

a cavity formed within said piston and intersecting said passageways in said piston,

control means movably positioned in the piston cavity for controlling fluid flow through said passageways between the fluid chamber portions above and belo said piston, and

means normally urging said control means into a position for shutting off fluid flow through said piston between said upper and lower chamber portions,

said control means responsive to a differential pressure across said control means for opening a fluid communication path from one end of said chamber to another.

4. The device set forth in claim 3 additionally having restricted bypass means in said piston for providing a fluid flow path around said piston in the event said control means is not operable.

5. An apparatus for packing off a well bore comprismg:

a pair of telescoping tubular members,

an expandable packer means positioned on said members for expanding upon relative movement of said members in one direction and contracting upon relative movement of said members in the opposite direction,

. means forming a fluid chamber between said members,

a piston formed on one of said members and slidably received within said chamber to divide said chamber into upper and lower portions,

a first passageway formed in said piston for providing a fluid flow path from said lower portion to said upper portion,

a second passageway formed in said piston for providing a fluid flow path from said upper portion to said lower portion,

spool valve means movably positioned within said piston,

said spool valve means operable upon movement between at least two positions for opening and closing said passageways to fluid communication between said upper and lower portions,

means forming a part of said spool valve means for permitting a restricted fluid flow around said spool valve means,

means effective upon the absence of relative movement between said members for urging said spool valve means into one of said positions to close said passageways, and

means responsive to an increase in pressure in one of said chamber portions to force said spool valve means to another position to open said passageways to fluid communication,

said spool valve means maintaining said passageways open for a time period determinable -by the amount of restricted fluid flow around said spool valve means.

6. An apparatus for packing oif a well bore comprising:

a pair of telescoping tubular members,

an expandable packer means positioned on said members for expanding upon relative movement of said members in one direction and for contracting upon relative movement of said members in the opposite direction,

means forming a chamber between said telescoping members for receiving a fluid,

piston means formed on one of said members and slidably received in said chamber,

said piston means having a passageway formed therein for passing fluid from one part of said chamber toanother through said piston,

a cavity formed within said piston and intersecting said passageway, and

valve means movably positioned within said cavity for opening and closing said passageway,

said valve means biased to close said passageway in the absence of relative movement betweensaid members and responsive to a relative movement between said members tending to expand said packer means to open said passageway.

7. An apparatus for packing off a well bore comprising:

a pair of telescoping tubular members,

an expandable packer means positioned on said members for expanding upon relative movement of said members in one direction and contracting upon relative movement of said members in the opposite direction,

means forming a chamber between said telescoping members for receiving a fluid,

piston means formed on one of said members and slidably received in said chamber,

said piston means having a passageway formed therein for passing fluid from one part of said chamber to another through said piston,

a cylinder formed within said piston and intersecting said passageway,

valve means movably positioned within said cylinder for opening and closing said passageway,

said valve means biased to close said passageway in the absence of relative movement between said members and responsive to an increase in fluid pressure in said passageway to open said passageway, and

restricted bypass means in said valve means for providing a fluid flow path around said valve means in the event said valve means is inoperative.

8. A device positioned between and for controlling the relative movement of two telescoping members of a well tool in a well bore comprising:

means forming a fluid chamber between said telescoping members,

seal means on one of said members for sealing one end of said chamber,

a compensating piston with sealing means thereon positioned at the other end of said chamber for sealing the other end of said chamber and for providing volume compensation to said chamber upon temperature changes encountered in said well bore,

a piston formed on one of said members and slidably received within said chamber to divide said chamber into upper and lower portions,

a first and second passageway formed through said piston providing a fluid communication path between said upper and lower portions above and below said piston,

cylinder formed within said piston and intersecting said first and second passageways,

control means movably positioned within said cylinder for opening and closing said passageways,

said control means movable between at least two positions for controlling fluid flow through said passageways between the fluid chamber portions above and below said piston, and means normally urging said control means into a position for shutting off fluid flow through said piston between said upper and lower chamber portions,

said control means responsive to a differential pressure across said control means for opening a fluid communication path from one end of said chamber to another.

9. A device for controlling relative movement between telescoping members of a tool comprising:

means forming an annular chamber between said members,

an annular piston formed on one of said members and slidably received within said chamber to divide said chamber into upper and lower portions,

a pair of passageways formed through said piston for providing fluid communication above and below said piston,

a cylinder formed in said piston and interrupting said passageways to form openings in said passageways intermediate their ends communicating with said upper and lower portions of said chamber,

a spool shaped valve movably positioned in said cylinder,

said spool valve having flange portions thereon and a recessed portion intermediate said flanged portions, and

means urging said valve to a position where said flanged portions cover part of said passageway openings and said recessed portion is positioned over at least one of said passageway openings to permit a restricted fluid flow through said valve,

said valve responsive to an increase in pressure in one of said chamber portions to move said valve against said unging means to a position opening said passageways to fluid communication.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,352 8/1957 Cornstock l66145 2,645,459 7/1953 Sutliif -297 2,901,001 8/1959 Nutter 166-152 X 2,942,669 5/1960 Mounce et a1 166226 X 2,951,539 9/1960 Malone et al 166-226 X 3,043,373 7/1962 Chenault 175 297 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner,

D. H. BROWN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT BETWEEN TELESCOPING MEMBERS OF A WELL TOOL COMPRISING: MEANS FORMING A CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS FOR RECEIVING A FLUID, PISTON MEANS FORMED ON ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID CHAMBER, SAID PISTON MEANS HAVING A PASSAGEWAY FORMED THEREIN FOR PASSING FLUID FROM ONE PART OF SAID CHAMBER TO ANOTHER THROUGH SAID PISTON, SAID PISTON MEANS HAVING A CYLINDER THEREIN INTERSECTING SAID PASSAGEWAY, VALVE MEANS MOVABLE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID VALVE MEANS BIASED TO CLOSE SAID PASSAGEWAY IN THE ABSENCE OF RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS AND RESPONSIVE TO AN INCEASE IN FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID PASSAGEWAY TO OPEN SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID VALVE MEANS SLOW TO RECLOSE SAID PASSAGEWAY. 